NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
22 reportsClear category filter90,000 miles · Dec 24, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 1997, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED HAS NOT EXCEEDED 35MPH. ON THREE OCCASIONS, A MECHANIC ADJUSTED THE TRANSMISSION TIMING; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT IT WAS BEST TO CRASH THE VEHICLE SINCE THE COST FOR A NEW TRANS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 1997, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED HAS NOT EXCEEDED 35MPH. ON THREE OCCASIONS, A MECHANIC ADJUSTED THE TRANSMISSION TIMING; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT IT WAS BEST TO CRASH THE VEHICLE SINCE THE COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS EQUIVALENT TO A NEW VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10252739
103,000 miles · Dec 30, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension
CONSTANT OVER HEATING AND FLUID COMING OUT OF THE RADIATOR CAP, ALSO SEVERE SHAKING IN THE STERRING WHEEL AND 4TH GEAR. WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?
NHTSA ODI #10146542
1,000 miles · Jul 21, 2005
Power Train
I OWN A 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. I HAVE A LEAK IN THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH PREMATURELY CAUSES WEAR ON THE CASE HOUSING AND CAN LEAD TO A PART FAILURE RESULTING IN WHEEL LOCKAGE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AND THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA HAS IGNORED MY CONCERNS AND CAUSING ME GROW VERY CONCERNED …
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I OWN A 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. I HAVE A LEAK IN THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH PREMATURELY CAUSES WEAR ON THE CASE HOUSING AND CAN LEAD TO A PART FAILURE RESULTING IN WHEEL LOCKAGE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AND THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA HAS IGNORED MY CONCERNS AND CAUSING ME GROW VERY CONCERNED WHEN I DRIVE MY VEHICLE. CAN YOU PLEASE INTERVENE HERE AND HAVE THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM?
NHTSA ODI #10129615
60,000 miles · Jan 20, 2005
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train
FUEL RELAY SWITCH ON MY MITSUIBISHI ECLIPSE 1997 GS HAS FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IN ORDER TO GET MY CAR TO START, I HAVE TO GO UNDER THE HOOD, "WIGGLE" THE RELAY SWITCH AND LIGHTLY TAP ON THE TOP OF IT. THIS FUEL RELAY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR, EVEN CAUSING THE CAR TO GO DEAD DURING TR…
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FUEL RELAY SWITCH ON MY MITSUIBISHI ECLIPSE 1997 GS HAS FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IN ORDER TO GET MY CAR TO START, I HAVE TO GO UNDER THE HOOD, "WIGGLE" THE RELAY SWITCH AND LIGHTLY TAP ON THE TOP OF IT. THIS FUEL RELAY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR, EVEN CAUSING THE CAR TO GO DEAD DURING TRAVEL. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY IT OCCURS. (20+ OCCURRENCES) ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF "BLUISH" GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE, REGARDLESS OF IDLE OR IN MOTION. (ALWAYS OCCURRING) SUNROOF STICKS (5-10 OCCURRENCES) BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS RATTLE WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION AND AS THE DOOR IS BEING SHUT (CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE) CLUTCH FAILURE, HARD SHIFTING (1 OCCURRENCE). *JB
NHTSA ODI #10107645
158,065 miles · Sep 7, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train
I HAVE OWNED MY CARE FOR 3 YEARS. IN THAT TIME I HAVE HAD A LEAKING SUNROOF, BROKEN PASSENGER REAR VIEW MIRROR, BROKEN PASSENGER WINDOW "WONT ROLL UP", NUMEROUS TIRE CHANGES, BAD VIBRATION, HORRIBLE NOISES WHEN TURNING WHEEL, HAVE REPLACED 2 TRANSMISSIONS, BOTH TIE ROD ENDS, 1 LOWER BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM SUSPENSION BAR"MORE…
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I HAVE OWNED MY CARE FOR 3 YEARS. IN THAT TIME I HAVE HAD A LEAKING SUNROOF, BROKEN PASSENGER REAR VIEW MIRROR, BROKEN PASSENGER WINDOW "WONT ROLL UP", NUMEROUS TIRE CHANGES, BAD VIBRATION, HORRIBLE NOISES WHEN TURNING WHEEL, HAVE REPLACED 2 TRANSMISSIONS, BOTH TIE ROD ENDS, 1 LOWER BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM SUSPENSION BAR"MORE INFO ON THIS BELOW", ALTERNATOR, BOTH HEADLIGHTS, 4 DIFFERANT SEATS OF BREAKS, 2 SEATS CONSTINTLY RUNNING LOW ON OIL, REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, SEAT BELTS DON'T STOP, BATTERY CABLES KEEP CARODING, REPLACE SPARK PLUGS ATLEAST 3 TO 4 TIMES A YEAR, VIBRATES WHEN GOING DOWN ROAD. THOSE ARE JUST THE THINGS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THAT I HAVE DONE TO THIS CAR. NOW TO THE ACCIDENT. AFTER I GOT OFF WORK I WAS ON MY WAY HOME WHEN I DECIDED TO GO TO MY FRIENDS SO WHILE DRIVING TO HER HOUSE I HEAR A LOUD POP AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW MY CAR IS CONTROLING ITSELF AND I CAN'T STEER IT. THIS WAS ALL DO TO MY LOWER BALL JOINT SHATTERING AND MY WHEEL ALMOST COMPLETLY DETACHING FROM MY CAR. NOW THE OTHER SIDE IS STARTING TO MAKE THAT HORRIBLE NOISE. THE CONTROL ARM SWUNG ON THE BOTTUM OF MY CAR AFTER IT BROKE DURING THIS AND TORE OUT MY OIL FILTER, OIL PAN, AND OXYGEN SENSEOR. HAVE YET TO RECIEVE ANY INFORMATION FROM MITSUBISHI.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10090522
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2004
Power Train
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF GEAR I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PASSING A LONG LINE OF TRUCKS AND HAD TO PULL OFF INTO THE LEFT SIDE BREAKDOWN LANE AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY NUMEROUS CARS DUE TO SENSORS IN THE CAR SHUTTING THE TRANSMISSION OFF DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE REPLACED 4 T…
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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF GEAR I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PASSING A LONG LINE OF TRUCKS AND HAD TO PULL OFF INTO THE LEFT SIDE BREAKDOWN LANE AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY NUMEROUS CARS DUE TO SENSORS IN THE CAR SHUTTING THE TRANSMISSION OFF DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE REPLACED 4 TRANSMISSIONS IN THE LAST 2 YEARS AND AM GETTING RID OF THIS CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ITS A VERY RELIABLE CAR EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSMISSIONS, THEY ARE TOTAL JUNK AND MITSUBISHI SHOULD RECALL ALL OF THEM. THEY DEFINATELY ARE A SAFETY HAZARD AND I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSIONS LOCK UP ON ME GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS JUST ABOUT COLLIDING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. IM SURPRISED THAT CAR HASNT CAUSED A WRECK YET. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10058781
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2003
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE WARNINGS AT THIS TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10034212
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2002
Power Train
DRIVEAXLE AND DRIVEAXLE HUB NUT CORRODED THROUGH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #756563
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension
THESE CARS ARE NOT WORTH THE MONEY USED TO MAKE THEM!!!!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #751748
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL STAY IN ONE GEAR, AND CLUTCH PEDAL WILL ALWAYS GO TO FLOOR AND WILL STAY THERE UNTIL ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, THEN RESTARTED. VEHICLE WILL START WORKING AGAIN. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER. TRANSFER CASE LEAKS AND THE CONSUMER WAS STILL EXPERIENCING GEAR…
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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL STAY IN ONE GEAR, AND CLUTCH PEDAL WILL ALWAYS GO TO FLOOR AND WILL STAY THERE UNTIL ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, THEN RESTARTED. VEHICLE WILL START WORKING AGAIN. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER. TRANSFER CASE LEAKS AND THE CONSUMER WAS STILL EXPERIENCING GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM. *YH
NHTSA ODI #878474